Democracy and Human Rights Program

Defying Giants: Hong Kong–Brewed Counter-Narratives to Stop the CCP’s Global Anti-Democracy Campaign

Abstract*This paper was written based on an interview conducted on April 10, 2024.

An alliance challenging China’s influence −Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in its policy towards China to counter potential authoritarian influence [in Spanish]

Measures to Tackle Delusional Political Campaigns

AbstractThe election process is crucial to democracy as it allows the people to select their representatives who will bear the duty to develop and carry out the will of the people; and thus, a political campaign comes into play. A political campaign generally reflects the intention and development plan a political party aims to pursue. It is equally (or even more) important and persuasive as the candidates themselves. Nonetheless, like everything in the world, there are two sides to a coin, in this case feasible and unfeasible (delusional) political campaigns. While feasible political campaigns allow voters to make well-informed votes for their country, unfeasible political campaigns could be considered as misinforming voters. In spite of the influence a political campaign can have over people, there is as yet no specific law that regulates campaigns directly, given the importance of freedom of speech. This paper discusses the relevant legal framework on political campaigns as well as measures to tackle delusional political campaigns, in order to empower voters and create a healthier ecosystem in a democratic society.

Japan’s Human Rights Diplomacy in UN Policy: The Role of Human Rights Norms and the Changing Modes of Multilateralism [in Japanese]

Democracy Turning Its Back on the International Order: Can Pride and Strategy for Global Engagement Be Recovered?

Japan’s Accidental Resilience in the Disinformation Age

The Ecosystem of Digital Influence Operations in China and Russia [in Japanese]

Call to Action for Georgia’s Stability [in Japanese]

Hasina’s Last Stand: The Quota Movement, Student Uprising, and the Future of Bangladeshi Democracy

AbstractBangladesh has been ruled by Sheikh Hasina for 16 years, during which time the country’s democracy has been undermined by widespread vote rigging, voter intimidation, and violent suppression of the opposition. However, the tide began to turn with the student quota protests and subsequent uprising, which eventually forced Hasina from power and led to the establishment of a military caretaker government. Despite this shift, Bangladesh remains on a quest for democracy, struggling to recover from the long period of Hasina’s undemocratic rule.

Democracy and Human Rights Program